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1/31/1980 - Africa Revisited by Bowden S. Quinn

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS BSQ I Uncle Joe Guest House Cameron Street P O Box Banjul The Gambia Africa Revisited January Mr Peter Bird Martin Institute Current World Affairs Wheelock House Vest Wheelock Street Hanover N H Dear Peter Uncle Joe Guest House Bar white stucco building corner Cameron Dobson streets heart Banjul Its stays closed until about opens reveal multi colored plastic streamers suited breeze Atlantic tropical The rippling yellow green orange strips invite thirsty passer drink Also attract customers midday speakers either begin shake building blasts Of African Caribbean reggae black American Isaac Hayes For while blaring player competes outsiders attention pitched voices children nearby primary school gleefully reciting lessons unison classes afternoon pulsing music pervades street unchallenged Behind small barroom living quarters Uncle Joe nephews nieces He rotund black girth about fullest black rimmed glasses sparse graying mustache proper British accent At building small apartment which I The bedroom cluttered furniture electrical apparatus Wires green walls vines which switches outlets bulge vegetal excrescences Most switches produce light neither conditioner works Off bedroom lavatory shower toilet The backdoor leads small enclosed packed where Joe women charcoal fires laundry plastic pails A corrugated metal marked Men Women white paint Joe customers relieve selves street vacant alley Bowden Quinn Institute Fellow studying colonial influences West African nations He reporter three years Journal Inquirer Manchester Conn before Peace Corps volunteer Chad During street painfully bright Banjul about capital The Gambia which supports little vegetation Most streets unshaded unlike similar towns Chad where French lined roads towering trees In those towns unfortunately resentful Chadian officials trees after ndependence because weren fruit bearing considered useless vestige colonialsim More productive arbors never replaced fallen trees however Banjul shade sunbaked Chad because breeze ocean which these winter evenings gains strength quite A visitor New England finds refreshing poorer Gambians especially children short pants cotton shirts shiver The noticeable difference between Banjul towns Chad traffic In Chad Land R0vers Peugeot Os Here streets Japanese European compacts brightly colored msing walking hazardous multitude pedestrians crowding sandy sidewalks crisscrossing roadso The contrast between dressed blacks behind wheel ragged Africans street constant reminder difficulties facing dependent countries The Gambia There enough money around while Gambians enjoy wealth privi leges independence poorly under colonialists cramped shelters little little little Indeed independence their lives harder profligate spending their fortunate countrymen drives everything I walkin where these poorer Gambians smell sewage running troughs street Stifling winter reflected metal concrete painted these people hving luxury their homes school Immediately streets children colorful unifor The boldest practiced their English Hello How Give Give pennies For majority secondary school paying Eng which Meanwhile through crowd Mercedes other expensive worked their carrying uniformed children those street except their parents government officials wealthy businessmen houses green yards Sere Kunda miles Colonies cease colonies because independent When Benjamin Disraeli spoke those words talking about United States midst civil He fellow members House Commons American Revolution begun almost years before would conclude until civil Great revolutions whatever their causes lightly menced concluded precipitation Only would United States colonial status cease those imperial characteristics appear which destiny maintained The speech noteworthy prognostication parallels later sentiments expresse country whose change course predicted He warned against becoming involved American condemned British govern mentts interference other countries affairs particularly China where previously supported rebels against emperor cJsanged policy support ruler against Taeping insurrection This Disraeli demand Taepings What Taepings Sir I maintain nothing Taepings Whether patriots whether brigands nothing people England In different chamber different century might another rebels another Asian country The problem likes McCarthy McGovern however content Jith indifference compelled insist American involvement Vietnam unwise immoral Disraeli practicality reason prime minister successful career American imitators He fundamental concerns still money power A formula success political remains ability taxes while I ventured Disraeli reminded colleagues attention House expenditure We retrenchment impossible because retrenched should subservient France Yesterday Britain France today U S Russia argument remains If Congress today Disraeli might direct words Jimmy Carter Viscount Palmer Let supposed because advocate frugal economical administration public funds opposed efficient state public service maintenance those establishments abroad which necessary maintain position Could George Bush better Will arguments countries ferent hundred years Will representative The Gambia stand legislative chamber United Feder ation West African States counsel discretion regards Civil India suggest threat Brazil warrant increase taxes African leaders certainly often enough about unity Pan Africanism praised ideal before countries continent their independence Reason supports approach How better African states would compelled currency airline brewery Yet there substantial obstacles Unlike American colonists West Africans common language shared political traditions In The Gambia sliver country fifths Connecticut there major tribes It difficult enough these small countries command loyalty their citizens federation would compound PrOblem Attempts forming multi state nations failed The federation Senegal Mali formed before independence broke apart months The Gambia which except coastline enveloped Senegal country larger resisted plans unification although still discussed The major impediment consolidations reluctance government leaders power However history about repeat itself As millennium conditions right change direction human events The sweep different peoples across earth ended Invading armies occupy conquer The tempering effect large scale inmnigration diminishes nations worried about maintaining their restrict entry other peoples And first finite capacities earth resources water If chapter history humanity about begin necessarily appear first One frustrating characteristics African nations determinedto repeat mistakes older countries It seems however stark contrast beteen cannot continue forever The African nations recog nizing truth behind Disraeli comment colonies blame developed nations economic order arrived observer their houses disarray At Fourth International Congress African Stu December Zaire scholars discussed The Dependency Africa Remedies As reviewed Barbara Harrell Bond AO Sreport No group discussed cependency economic cultural military political terms purposes organization I taken these categories prefer political military under heading government education It education I begin chosen The Gambia neighboring Senegal because enjoyed large degree pol_tical stability since independence allocating school systems develop unhindered abrupt canges leaer Africans generally consider which marks their rebirth people The largest number African nations achieved their independence Senegal The Gambia tardy becoming state Still countries reached point positions leadership start being assumed young women eucated entirely Gambians Senegalese To determine Africa evolve years important educational system shaped these leaders change system eneration Africans Sincerely B Quinn American Universities Field Staff